Arrested Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Abdul Karim Tunda was in touch of former ISI chief Hamid Gul, police and intelligence officials interrogating him told Hindustan Times.
They said that Tunda was 'tough nut to crack' and is an an expert in giving false leads designed to confuse security
agencies.

Police claim that being the talent spotter and the recruiter of young jehadis, Tunda had gone as far as Africa seeking funds for the terror modules.

"Even at this advanced age, his health is good and memory impeccable. He can reel off names and dates with ease," said SN Srivastava, joint commissioner, Special Cell.

"The most striking aspect of Tunda's personality was his vengeful nature. The other striking fact was the broad sweep of his contacts. He knows virtually everyone in the who's who list of terror."

Before being produced at a city court and being put up for remand, Tunda told the special cell that a staggering Rs. 10 crore in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) had been recovered from his Lahore residence after a raid by the local police last year.

"However, no criminal case was registered since the raid had apparently been conducted on an ISI input and intended to shock him into doing their bidding with a little more enthusiasm," said an official.

Meanwhile, the special cell claimed that one of Tunda's four sons -- Abdul Waris -- had been arrested for involvement in a terror plot hatched in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from Waris, one of Tunda's sons-in-law, whose name cannot be disclosed in the interests of investigation, is also a LeT cadre, sources said.

The police are also looking into his network in Africa and Saudi Arabia besides his known contacts across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Gulf nations and Pakistan.

Negating reports that former ISI chief Hamid Gul was Tunda's handler, an intelligence official said: "Tunda doesn't need handlers. He is self-sufficient and efficient with his cross-country network of about a hundred-odd individuals."